Chantelle and Jeff Burland had no concerns for their 18-year-old son when he left his Thornton Heath home on June 22 to walk to Norbury train station with his girlfriend.

The next time they saw him, he was lying in a hospital bed being stitched up by A&E medics after being knifed eight times - three times in the back, four times in the arm and once across his thumb.

Doctors at St George's Hospital, in Tooting, told the youngster that he was lucky the knife did not hit his spine and he had to have five hours of surgery on his arm.

Their son, who the couple do not want to name for fear of reprisals, was at the end of what police are treating as an unprovoked, terrifying attack by four strangers at about 4.45pm near the boxing club in Norbury Park.

The teenager said the thugs hit him around the head with a handgun asking him "where you from?" After he replied "Thornton Heath" the vicious stabbing was launched.

Now, the couple fear for him and their other two young children, aged eight and 10, to the extent they are scared about them leaving the family home to put something in the bin near the front door.

With the many of the victims and offenders in serious youth violence being black males, according to police, Chantelle, 40, feels there is a stigma about her son now having visible stab wounds.

The teenager received three stab wounds in his back

The mother-of-three said: "While I sat in the hospital there was a lady that got talking to me and she made a comment 'these young black boys, why do they keep doing this?'

"I thought 'my son isn't one of those young black boys that you're thinking of'.

"I feel like I just can't say my son was stabbed, I have to go into 'he's not that type of person'."

Their son is a high achieving young man who has lived in, what the family describe as, their own "bubble" after moving to Croydon in 2010, only reading in local newspapers about what was happening in the area.

In fact, teachers at his school – where he left with 11 GCSEs - were worried he was actually too quiet and that he needed to assert himself more.

"He's always at home," said Chantelle, a teacher. "No one knocks at the door to ask for him to the point where I'm thinking 'why doesn't he go out?'"

Although this kind of attack is rare, according to police, he is one of many recent victims of knife crime in the borough - although statistics for the offence have dropped in the last three months.

Earlier this year, however, they were at some of the highest levels seen in years.

When asked whether this attack was gang related, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The victim had no gang affiliations but police are keeping an open mind as to the motive for the attack."

The teenager received three stab wounds in his back

The family now have a long-term plan of moving out of the borough, once their financial situation allows them to.

Jeff, a 43-year-old taxi driver, said: "Everything has just changed, your eyes are opened and now you're wary of your surroundings.

"We know our son. We've not had an inkling of thinking he's doing something dodgy because I would shut him down immediately."

Describing the horrendous attack, the teenager said he just wants justice now, while having long-term physiotherapy to enable him to grip with his hand again.

The teenager, who is moving away from Croydon for university in September, said: "At the moment of [the stabbing], it didn't hurt because of the adrenaline. But later on you feel it more, you feel the pain. It's an ache.

"Now, I'm feeling alright about it but the thing I feel the most is the justice side of it.

"I'm confused as to why no one has been caught yet, I'm surprised about that.

"I don't feel anger towards the people who did that to me. I don't feel anything. More than anything I just want justice. A prison sentence."

The couple's local MP Steve Reed wrote to Home Secretary Amber Rudd after the couple went to him in search of help, having apparently been told by an officer in the case how resources were an issue.

Four weeks after the incident, and the family had not met an investigating officer, aside from those who took a statement at the teenager's bedside in the vital hours after the attack.

Chantelle said: "It's been slightly disheartening the service that we've received from Croydon police.

"I would have liked for the police to liaise with me a bit more, I would've like for them to have shown more compassion and empathy."

Jeff and Chantelle Burland watched as their son was treated in St George's Hospital (Image: Samantha Booth)

Chantelle said an officer in the case told her on the phone how because of austerity, there's a lack of funding including for sending some items for forensic testing.

Police have denied to the Advertiser that resources have been an issue and insisted there have been "extensive" enquiries, particularly in relation to tracing potential sources of CCTV to identify the attackers before and after.

"This was a serious assault and where forensic evidence can be obtained, it will be submitted for examination," a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

A search warrant was also executed at an address during the investigation and further arrangements are in hand to meet the victim and gather further evidence, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

The couple have met the borough commander Chief Superintendent Jeff Boothe to vent their frustrations and, ultimately, the couple now want justice for their son and to help stop youth violence in the borough.

Since the attack, Chantelle had a conversation with one mum and forced her to admit how her sons, one who is being sentenced for attempted murder while another is on the run, were in gangs.

Chantelle said: "I said 'what you need to do to me on the phone right now is admit to me that your sons are in gangs'. And she said 'yeah'.

"She said 'it was really hard for me to accept that my sons are in gangs'.

"I'm all for social change and I do have a heart, but at the same time, we need to be less lenient on some of these perpetrators."

After delving into a depth of research into gangs and youth violence, she feels police need to clamp down on what she called "male grooming" of teenage schoolboys, whereby they entice them with expensive presents while bringing them into a world of crime, and she believes parents need to get more of a grasp on their children's activities.

She added: "Parents, you need to admit it and speak up because I don't believe you can have your child living with you unless you condone that type of activity.

"You must know a small element of what your child is doing or their behaviour. How are they acting?

"Are they out when they shouldn't be? How are they performing in school? I just think parents need to be more honest."

Police are still searching for witnesses to the brutal attack.

Detective Inspector David Willis, of Croydon CID, said: "This appears to have been a totally unprovoked attack on the victim by four complete strangers. While attacks like this are thankfully rare, they can be devastating for the victims.

"I would urge anyone who has any information to contact police; your call could prevent another attack or even save a life.

"We are determined to bring those responsible to justice and we are asking the community to do all they can to assist us."

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0203 276 2229 or contact officers via Twitter @MetCC.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers by phone on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

*Over the coming weeks we will be writing about different aspects of serious youth violence and knife crime within Croydon. We want to know your views. Have you, your child or someone you know been involved in knife crime either as a victim or a perpetrator ? Email your views to samantha.booth@croydonadvertiser.co.uk